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Month: October 2026

Anne Roumanoff and Édith Piaf tribute to headline free National Day shows

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/10/2026

French comedian Anne Roumanoff and a tribute to Édith Piaf that has drawn more than two million spectators worldwide are among three free shows the Mairie de Monaco is offering Monegasques and residents to mark National Day 2026, running at the Espace Léo Ferré from 14th to 19th November.

The programme, which mixes theatre, music and comedy, opens with a family show and builds towards the Principality’s celebrations on 19th November, when Monaco marks the Sovereign Prince’s Day. Invitations are free but limited, and will be handed out in early November.

Theatre for the youngest

The festivities begin on Saturday 14th November at 3pm with ‘Pyjamas’, a theatre piece suitable for children aged three and over. Set in the intimacy of a bedroom, it follows an adult who slowly rediscovers the pleasure of playing and make-believe, as shoes, clothes and everyday objects become companions in an adventure where imagination takes over.

Piaf on the eve of National Day

On Wednesday 18th November at 9pm, the night before National Day, the stage turns to music with ‘PIAF! Le Spectacle – Hymne à La Môme’. Led by singer Nathalie Lermitte, the show pays tribute to Édith Piaf through her best-loved songs, combining live music with previously unseen archive images and modern stage technology. The production has toured internationally, and the Mairie says it has already been seen by more than two million people around the world.

Roumanoff closes the programme

The final show, on Thursday 19th November at 6pm, is Anne Roumanoff’s new one-woman show, ‘L’Âge libre’. Inflation, women’s place in business, modern relationships, Donald Trump, the French presidential race and the rise of the extremes all come under her sharp eye, as she takes aim at contemporary chaos while celebrating the stage of life when women free themselves from the expectations placed on them.

Both the Piaf tribute and Roumanoff’s show are performed in French.

How to get tickets

Invitations will be distributed at the Mairie de Monaco from 9am to 4pm, and at the Espace Léo Ferré from 11am to 6pm. Monegasque nationals, along with their spouses and children, have priority on Wednesday 4th November. Distribution then opens to residents as well on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th November.

Each person may collect one invitation, subject to availability, on presentation of an identity card or residence card. For children, the family record book, or livret de famille, is required.

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Photo by Monaco Life

International pétanque tournament returns to Monaco this weekend

by: Kayla Sauceda
21/10/2026

Monaco will welcome pétanque players from across the international circuit this weekend as the eighth International de Monaco takes place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October, with teams competing for the Challenge Prince Héréditaire Jacques.

Organised by the Fédération Monégasque de Boules and Club Bouliste Monégasque, the two-day competition will bring together experienced players for one of the Principality’s major pétanque events of the year.

The tournament offers a reported €15,000 in prize money, with matches beginning at 9am on Saturday.

THREE-PLAYER TEAMS COMPETE

This year’s edition will follow the triplette format, with teams of three competing against one another. The tournament has attracted considerable interest, with registration marked as full on the official competition platform.

The competition will continue Sunday, where remaining teams will compete for the title.

A GROWING TRADITION

Now in its eighth edition, the tournament continues to shape an important part of Monaco’s sporting calendar.

The event follows the Challenge Princesse Gabriella, a women’s pétanque competition held earlier this month, highlighting the Principality’s continued involvement in the sport.

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Photo source: Club Bouliste Monégasque

Sporting excellence and storytelling celebrated at Sportel Awards 2026

by: Kayla Sauceda
20/10/2026

The 37th Sportel Awards brought athletes, sporting personalities, and media professionals together at the Grimaldi Forum on Monday 19th October, celebrating the stories and images that capture the emotion of sport.

Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, the ceremony highlighted outstanding international sports productions, while also honouring former France goalkeeper and 2018 World Cup winner Steve Mandanda.

Nearly 150 programmes were submitted to this year’s competition, with 26 works from seven countries shortlisted in categories including documentaries, sports features, advertising, and books.

STEVE MANDANDA HONOURED

One of the evening’s highlights saw Prince Albert II present Mandanda with the Autobiography Award for Les jours d’après, co-written with journalist Mathieu Coureau.

The book explores the challenges of life after professional football, with Mandanda reflecting on the uncertainty of leaving elite sport behind and finding a new direction following a career spanning more than 20 years.

The former goalkeeper was among numerous personalities attending the awards ceremony, which also welcomed Olympic athletes, world champions, and figures from across the sports industry.

CELEBRATING SPORT ON SCREEN

Hosted by Marc Maury, the ceremony featured the Golden Podiums and Sports Book Prize Renaud de Laborderie presentations.

The shortlisted productions showcased different approaches to storytelling, from dramatic sporting performances to personal portraits and stories beyond competition.

Among the winners, NBC Sports received the Best Slow Motion award for Dreaming on in Milan: The Best of Slo-Mo at the Winter Olympics, while Brazil’s TV Globo won Best Report for The Voice of a Dream.

French production Les femmes les plus hautes du monde took home Best Thematic Documentary, while British production A Beautiful Obsession, directed by Kevin Macdonald, was named Best Docu-Series.

This year’s jury was chaired by former Brazilian footballer Sonny Anderson, with members including mountain biker and filmmaker Kilian Bron, handball champion Siraba Dembélé-Pavlović, Monaco swimmer Lisa Pou, and sports photographer Catherine Steenkeste, among others.

Several sporting personalities also presented awards throughout the evening, including Olympic boxing champion Tony Yoka, karate champion Steven Da Costa, former basketball players Mickaël Gelabale and Ali Traoré, and sprinter Ryan Zézé.

The evening also featured performances by the Monaco All Stars, with around ten athletes combining acrobatics and lifts in routines created for the ceremony.

SPORT AND MEDIA COME TOGETHER

This year’s awards took place alongside Sportel Monaco, the international sports media and technology market also held at the Grimaldi Forum.

The connection between the two brought together athletes whose achievements inspire sports content and the broadcasters, producers, and professionals responsible for delivering those stories to audiences.

Marine Picoulet, Executive Director of Sportel Awards and Sportel Monaco, highlighted the importance of that relationship.

“This edition reminded us of the strength of Sportel Awards: bringing athletes and sports media professionals together around the most powerful images and emotions that sport has to offer,” she said.

Picoulet added that the organisation aims to continue developing storytelling formats while preserving the competition’s original identity, established by Georges Bertellotti.

Monaco Life was there. See more in our video below…

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Photo credit: Kayla Sauceda / Monaco Life

Monaco launches free mobile protection against nuisance calls

by: Virginia D’Umas
20/10/2026

The Government and Monaco Telecom have launched a joint campaign to help citizens and residents protect their mobile phones against rising numbers of cold calls, automated telemarketing, and phone scams.

As mobile users face increasing frequency of automated cold calls originating from both France and international numbers, the collaboration, announced on Tuesday, highlights two free mobile applications designed to screen and block unwanted communications.

Mobile protection through community reporting

The government and the telecom provider are directing users toward two French-developed applications, Saracroche and Blocall, both available free of charge on iOS and Android platforms.

The software operates through collaborative reporting, allowing users to identify and block numbers flagged as spam or fraudulent by the wider community. Beyond voice call management, both platforms incorporate features to detect and flag fraudulent SMS messages. Authorities emphasise that both applications comply with privacy standards, protecting user personal data while actively filtering unwanted traffic.

Support via the Maison du Numérique

To assist residents with technical setup, Monaco’s Maison du Numérique is providing structured guidance and digital support.

The centre is hosting dedicated workshops to walk users through installation and configuration on their devices. Residents can also visit the venue on a drop-in basis to receive one-on-one assistance from technical advisers. Alongside application setup, staff are offering broader advice on online safety, helping visitors identify common internet scams and adopt best practices for digital security.

Established in 2021 as a joint initiative between Monaco Telecom, the Princely Government, and the Municipality of Monaco, the Maison du Numérique offers free digital guidance and assistance to the local community. To date, the facility has welcomed more than 2,000 visitors.

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Photo Credit: Jay Openiano – Unsplash

Motorcyclists gear up for Christmas charity ride

by: Virginia D’Umas
20/10/2026

The Alpes-Maritimes branch of the French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC 06) has announced the 2026 edition of its annual Christmas charity ride, scheduled to take place along the French Riviera on Saturday 12th December.

Running under the banner ‘Les Motards de Noël’, the charity procession will traverse the coastal route from Cannes to Nice to raise funds for PEP 06, a regional association supporting disadvantaged children and young people.

Coastal route and event timings

According to details released by the organisers, participating riders will assemble from 10am at the Palm Beach car park in Cannes. The convoy will depart along the coast, making an intermediate stop at the Esplanade du Pré des Pêcheurs in Antibes at approximately 11:15am, before completing the run in Nice at around 12:15pm.

Entry is set at €5 per helmet, with the organisers confirming that all proceeds raised will go directly to support PEP 06’s local welfare and educational initiatives.

Focus on safety and youth participation

The 2026 edition succeeds a successful 2025 event that saw around 500 motorbikes join various stages of the route. For this year’s run, organisers are exploring the possibility of involving up to 15 young people supported by PEP 06, potentially allowing them to participate as rear passengers.

FFMC 06 announced that youth transport remains strictly subject to individual safety checks, full protective gear including fitted CE-certified helmets and gloves, parental consent, and appropriate insurance cover. If these conditions are not fully met, alternative arrangements will allow the children to take part in the festivities on the ground.

Local community support

Local businesses, dealerships, and sponsors are being invited to contribute through equipment donations, specifically motorcycle helmets, as well as raffle prizes and financial backing.

Riders and supporters wishing to join the procession or follow event developments can obtain final logistical updates directly through FFMC 06 ahead of the December gathering.

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Photo Credit: Père Noël Motards du Var

Columbus Hotel turns cork recycling into support for Fondation Flavien

by: Kayla Sauceda
20/10/2026

Columbus Hotel Monte-Carlo has presented €542 to Fondation Flavien following a cork recycling initiative involving hotels, restaurants, and partners across the Principality.

Launched in early 2025, the initiative invited participating establishments to collect used corks for specialist recycling, with the proceeds supporting the foundation’s work against childhood cancer and assisting affected families.

The cheque presentation on Friday 16th October marked the outcome of several months of collections across Monaco.

FROM BOTTLE TO COLLECTION POINT

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer collected the largest number of corks during the initiative. Monaco Town Hall, the Automobile Club de Monaco, and Graphic Services also supported the initiative.

Participating establishments further included Les Perles de Monte-Carlo, Beefbar, Amici Mei, Graziella, L’Ecurie, Edmond’s Hotel, La Mala, Norma, Chez Pierre, El Mercado by 3 Tapas, and Le Méridien Beach Plaza.

By collecting materials that otherwise might be thrown away, the initiative combined recycling with fundraising for the Monaco-based association.

CONTINUING THE COLLECTION

“This project demonstrates that, by joining forces, we can give simple actions a charitable purpose while contributing to a more environmentally responsible approach,” said Victoria Stevenson, General Manager of Columbus Hotel Monte-Carlo.

The hotel and its partners hope to encourage more establishments to join the initiative, continuing cork collections and raising further funds for Fondation Flavien.

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Photo source: Columbus Hotel Monte-Carlo